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1 http://wordpress.com/https://s0.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngHappyDogFactotumhttps://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com
A famous Prosciuttohttps://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/a-famous-prosciutto/
https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/a-famous-prosciutto/#respondTue, 11 Aug 2015 22:17:06 +0000http://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/?p=918If we say prosciutto or pancetta you all know what we are talking about, but have you ever heard Negroni? It’s one of the best charcuterie brands in Italy (it is also a popular cocktail but that is for another time). The brand is not only confined to Italy, some of their exquisite prosciutto can also be found abroad, most likely you will have seen the Parma ham sold in small quantities.

Pane di Altamura is made in the town of Altamura, also known as “Città del Pane”, and dates back to before 37 BC. Altamura is located in the Southeast of Italy in the province of Bari, Apulia (Puglia). There are over 350 different breads recognised in Italy, which is not surprising as it is the backbone to all Italian meals and the first thing put on the table, this is one of the most famous recipes.

Pane di AltamuraThis bread is another of the food produces that has acquired D.O.P (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta – Protected Designation of Origin) similar to the Fontina cheese. To be able to be called Pane di Altamura, the bread requires specific water along with the regional ground semolina durum flour (semola di grano duro rimacinata).

The honey coloured crust, which must be 3mm thick or more, has a delicious crunch but is not hard like a typical crusty loaf. A normal loaf of this bread weighs approximately 500g to 1kg, but they can go up higher than this. The fascinating thing about this loaf is that it can stay fresh for around 15 days (no preservatives needed!) while still retaining it’s soft centre, taste and aroma (of course in reality it is eaten well before this time),

Although the bread can be moulded into any shape, it generally takes the form of either a “Priest’s hat” (Dialect: a cappidde de prèvete, Italian: a cappello di prete) or a taller folded style loaf (Local dialect name U Sckuanète, Italian: pane accavallato).

The loaves are baked in a wood fired oven, where the fire helps to give a pleasant fragrance to the bakery and add charm to the bread.

Old Town of Altamura, location of the oldest bakery in town “Anticuus Forus Sancta Clara”Another fantastic story from this town is that the locals love of their traditional food, in particular this bread, led to the closure of the McDonald’s restaurant who could no longer compete regardless of their many ways to market their food, read the longer story here.

]]>https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/08/04/pane-di-altamura/feed/1happydogfactotumBy fugzu from Pistoia, Italia (pane altamura Uploaded by Diádoco) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsPhoto by mls559 [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsAve Maria – The Hail Maryhttps://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/08/02/ave-maria-the-hail-mary/
https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/08/02/ave-maria-the-hail-mary/#respondSun, 02 Aug 2015 22:21:20 +0000http://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/?p=886The third prayer in this section is The Hail Mary or Ave Maria as it is called in latin. It is a Prayer to the Virgin Mary, giving salutations and asking for her Intercession. The Prayer is based on a greeting from the Angel Gabriel to Mary when he was delivering the message to inform her that she was bearing the Messiah.

Prayer – Preghiera

The Hail Mary

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.Amen.

It has often been accompanied by music and most famously to Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude No. 1 in C Major from the first volume of “The Well Tempered Clavier”, along with the other well known Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria makes only a reference to actual the Prayer and is not a recital.

Here is Placido Domingo singing the Bach-Gounod Latin and also Italian version of “Ave Maria”

Here is a version of Pavarotti singing the Schubert version”Ave Maria” in Los Angeles:

Videos on this HappyDogFactotum post are from YouTube, they are copyright to their respectful owners.

]]>https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/08/02/ave-maria-the-hail-mary/feed/0happydogfactotumWho is Dylan Dog?https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/who-is-dylan-dog/
https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/07/29/who-is-dylan-dog/#respondWed, 29 Jul 2015 22:29:32 +0000http://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/?p=869Dylan Dog is a long running Italian comic strip, about a Supernatural Investigator (Indagatore dell’incubo – Nightmare Investigator) living and working in a horror infused world of London.

The comic was created by Tiziano Sclavi and has been running since 1986. The character was initially drawn to look like the English Actor: Rupert Everett, with his name inspired by the Famous Welsh Poet: Dylan Thomas (known for “Under Milk Wood” and amongst others, a collection of short stories titled “Portrait of the Artist of a Young Dog” – which is possibly where the inspiration for his last name is taken too).

What is Dylan’s style?

Dylan dresses uniformly and is recognised by his blue jeans, red shirt and black jacket. Always seen wearing the same look, it easier than deciding what to wear (a sentiment that Albert Einstein was said to have followed), Dylan owns twelve sets of this outfit.

Cover – Dylan Dog No. 4 (1991) – The Ghost of Anna Never

He investigates the Paranormal using his deadly “dark arts” and is supported by his trusty sidekick Groucho (named after Comedian Groucho Marx and sporting the familiar moustache), who adds humour to this grisly genre and Dylan’s sombre temperament.

Where is it set?

Our hero primarily performs his investigations in London but has been known to travel to other locations on occasion. Dylan travels around the city in a rundown VW Beetle Cabriolet, riddled with problems but just as charismatic as our protagonist.

Another nod to the horror culture is the location of where Dylan and Groucho live, 7 Craven Road, named after Director Wes Craven, but also an actual London location and home to: Cafe Dylan Dog

Why have I not heard about or seen this before?

Although hugely popular in Italy, it is one of the most read comic characters, the books have rarely been translated into English, with only a mini series and one off special being translated and published through Dark Horse Comics (currently unavailable).

So where can I buy Dylan Dog and find out more about this mysterious character?

The comic books are widely available in Italy and can be found in Newsagents (Hudson News in airports often have the new editions, reprints and vintage versions) along with Kiosks found all over Italian towns.

Dylan Dog is a hugely popular black and white drawn comic book

Will reading these help learning Italian?

Enjoying the tales that are told in the books, along with the comic format can indeed help you learn Italian. Whereas a novel has pages of text and can be off putting for a beginner or intermediate, comic books break up the story and can be easier to follow. This allows more of the target language to be acquired. Tim Ferriss improved his Japanese language skills reading Manga stories in this way.

What about a Motion picture, surely that’s begging to be produced?

There have been a couple of big screen outings in released in English.

The first was “Cemetery Man”, starring Rupert Everett. An Italian/French/German Comedy Horror. The film is not strictly a Dylan Dog film but it does cover the same themes, a cemetery worker must dispatch the dead when the rise from the grave as zombies. The lead character does make an appearance in the Dylan Dog comics as a crossover. The film was based on a book by Tiziano Sclavi.

The second film was an English Language film released in 2011 “Dylan Dog: Dead of Night”, starring Brandon Routh (also known for playing Superman in the film “Superman Returns”) as our Hero Dylan. In this story Dylan investigates crimes of the Supernatural and the dead in Louisiana Bayou, USA. Besides relocating to action to America, Dylan did retain his famous “Red shirt, Jeans and Black Jacket” attire.

This is the Prayer that the famous Hyperpolyglot, Cardinal Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti, would ask people to recite in their native language when visiting him.

With his understanding of the Lord’s Prayer, in his native tongue, and comparing how the speaker recited it, Cardinal Mezzofanti was able to understand the rhythm and cadence of the target language.

Many people visited him and enabled him to learn around 40 languages, which he would use to give blessings or confessions in their own language…

…or so the legend goes.

Cardinal Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti (1774-1849) – Bologna University

Prayer – Preghiera

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom com.
Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

In 2007 on Easter Sunday, it was reported that approximately 2 billion Christians; including Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox and Anglican celebrated Easter with a shared recital of the Lord’s Prayer across the World. Uniting people of different languages through the same Prayer meaning.

]]>https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/the-lords-prayer/feed/0happydogfactotumThe Sign of the Crosshttps://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/the-sign-of-the-cross/
https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/the-sign-of-the-cross/#respondMon, 20 Jul 2015 22:30:34 +0000http://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/?p=841After so many requests to speak about and explain the Christian Prayers in their original language we’ve decided to dedicate a section to it.

We’ll update step by step with common prayers and their official translations.

Whether you believe in it or not it’s interesting reading and undeniable part of Italy and Italian culture.

You’ll be able to compare to the English version along with enhancing your knowledge in the target language of Italian. It makes a fascinating read in terms of culture.

Prayer – Preghiera

We’ll start with the first prayer, this is the one that begins and ends a formal prayer:

The Sign of the Cross:

In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Segno della Croce:

Nel nome del Padre, e del Figlio, e dello Spirito Santo. Amen

The sign of the cross is likely to be the first prayer you will have heard and/or learnt. It is likely you will have heard it in Italian too, simple because it is the most used by Christians.

The prayer is often coupled with a ritual blessing, or blessing oneself with the sign of the cross. The blessing is made using the right hand, gesturing across the body performed at the same time as the prayer is spoken.

Continuing the summer food posts, everyone thinks about Gelato and Granita during summer but they are not the only food to enjoy in summer in Italy. Fontina Cheese (La Fontina formaggio) is a cow’s milk cheese where, although obtained all year round, the best is produced during the summer when the cows are allowed to graze at a higher altitude in the mountains.

Fontina can be eaten as is or used in recipes

This higher altitude (greater than 1800m) enables the cows to remain cool during the Italian summer heat along with grazing on lush aromatic grass and therefore producing this unique flavoured cheese.

Fontina is produced only in the Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta) in the Alps and has been certified D.O.P (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta – Protected Designation of Origin). It has origins circa 1200 A.D. and takes its name from the Family Fontin.

The semi hard cheese can be used in many recipes but is also enjoyed on its own with a full-bodied red wine (for example Chianti Classico Riserva)

]]>https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/summer-food-cheese/feed/1happydogfactotumFontinaHappy Cows make the best milk for FontinaApropos of freshness on a hot summer’s dayhttps://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/07/14/apropos-of-freshness-on-a-hot-summers-day/
https://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/2015/07/14/apropos-of-freshness-on-a-hot-summers-day/#commentsTue, 14 Jul 2015 21:03:06 +0000http://happydogfactotum.wordpress.com/?p=825Here are some exquisite granita “I Nevaroli dell’Etna”Delicious Granita

These have been made with years of experience and research following the Sicilian tradition of crafting Granita. This new company has been able to recreate the antique taste so the whole world can enjoy.

The company states:

As the Nevaroli, an ancient people from the Middle Ages, preserved the snow from the High altitudes of Mount Etna and transported it to the coast to refresh and delight Noblemen and Peasants alike with their Granita, today “I Nevaroli dell’Etna” offer to the world the chance to taste this typical Sicilian tradition.

We seized the opportunity to sample them, taking a packet from the supermarket…

When it’s a hot summer’s day, so hot that you don’t feel like to do anything, what’s better than a GELATO or GHIACCIOLO or SORBETTO?

Yesterday I caught a glimpse of a new advert of a well know Italian company that makes packaged Ice creams.

Even though it cannot substitute an artisanal one, it made me dream for a while.

It reminded me of when I was younger, a teenager unconcerned with the summer heat. I was able to stay on the beach the whole day long and at night meet my friends, who punctually arrived at the kiosk eating a ghiacciolo or gelato.
Very often the gelato was SAMMONTANA.

Sammontana – picture courtesy of wikipedia

The new advert says:

“SAMMONTANA La mia estate italiana”

(Sammontana – my Italian summer)

Their clear intention is to give you the feeling that there’s no summer without Sammontana!

Somehow they have succeeded but, apart from the commercial side, it’s part of us now. It is part of summer.

They show teenagers on a beach, at night meeting friends and their first love, a rap song in the background, along with the pictures it gives you the sensation you’re living those emotions, it summons memories of the past and shows you how an Italian summer was and still is.
The symbol of their brand now means SUMMER, it emphasises the memory of hot summer days.

What makes you feel it’s summer?

And what is better than a Gelato on a hot day or a very hot estate italiana night!

So, at 21:00 in the big crowded arena of Moscow, the lights were switched off, the giant screen was switched on and Robbie Williams appeared on the stage accompanied by pounding applauses. Robbie began with the song “Let me entertain you” which also gives the name of the tour.

Particular mention should be made about the organisation, especially the scene set-ups on stage – the concert, in fact, was full of special effects. Robbie changed his outfit often, switching his style from a black dinner jacket to a Scottish kilt and even put on a pair of horns. Mr. Williams wanted a show that was able to involve everyone and succeeded in achieving his purpose. You couldn’t help but be astonished! The glitz and the splendour of the stage clashed with and, at the same time, were in tune with the touching meaning of the songs and the instilled feelings.

Robbie Williams talked about his children and sang a new song dedicated to his son! It was one the most touching moments! Almost as emotional as when his father joined him on the stage to sing “Better man” with Robbie.